Improved safety-bridge for railroad-cars



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI sTUReEoN, oF coLUMBIANA, oHIo.

IMPROVED SAFETY-BRIDGE FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 81,958, dated September 8, 1868.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ELI STURGEON, of Columbiana, in the county of Columbiana, State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Adjustable Bridge to Span theSpace between Railroad-Gars; and I do hereby declare the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2 is a view of the under side of the bridge.

The nature of my invention consists of a board or slats which forms a bridge, and is attached to the ends of the cars by means of four upright studs made of iron or other metal, to which are attached spiral springs, so that the space can be increased or diminished between the cars,and thereby expansion or contraction ofthe distance is effected as the motion of the cars while being propelled may require.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use Iny invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my bridge A of a series of' slats or thin boards, which are fastened together in the ordinary manner. At each end I have two or more joints, whichrform a'drop, which are attached to the bridge by means of hinges a a. Under the bridge is a erosspiece made of wood, B, to which is fastened the spiral springsb b, or other material admitting of expansion or contraction. The bridge, with the spring, is attached to the platform of the cars and lfastened to the four uprights or studs e e, made of iron or other metal, by means of metal hooks d d. The bumper and platform of the cars C are made in the ordinary manner, the studs e e being driven into the same firmly. When the cars are not in use the bridge A, with its appurtenances, can be removed by opening the hooks d d, so that it can be adjusted or removed when needed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure Letters Patent for, is-

rEhe adjustable bridge A, with spiral springs b b attached to the bumpers or platforms of railroad-cars C by means of hooks d d on the four uprights c cc c, in the manner and for the uses and purposes set forth and herein more fully described.

ELI STURGEON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MORRIS, WM. F. Hoon. 

